A certain Hogwarts professor of runes

Chapter 156 Exam

Early June.

Felix was awakened by the sound of raindrops hitting the window. Outside, everything was gray and hazy. A dazzling bolt of lightning flashed across the greenhouse, followed by a series of low, rumbling claps of thunder.

The final exams have been going on for three days, but the Ancient Magic Runes class is scheduled in the middle to later part of all the subjects, so for him, today is the first day of the final exams.

Fortunately, the ancient runes he taught were an elective course. Excluding the fifth and seventh years, which were for preparing for the wizarding exams, he only needed to proctor the remaining three years.

All the professors of the required courses had to spend more time outsmarting the young wizards, and Belby, who was in charge of Defense Against the Dark Arts, complained to him more than once—

"There are always students who try to take chances. Can you imagine? During a pre-exam check, I found a dozen quill pens used for cheating!"

Felix specifically consulted Professor Flitwick about this issue, and he told Felix, "You can provide students with anti-cheating quills, which will save a lot of effort."

He readily accepted the suggestion.

In the ancient spellbook classroom, the long rows of seats have been replaced with individual desks and chairs. Felix waves his wand, causing a large number of test papers and quills to land precisely on the small tables in front of the fourth-year students.

"I must remind you that the exam papers and quills have been enchanted with anti-cheating measures, and the consequences of cheating are very serious."

The exam began, and Felix wandered around the aisle between the seats, announcing the time every half hour.

By the time he reminded them a second time, some students had already finished the exam.

"Very well, Mr. Andrews, you can choose to continue the examination or go outside for some fresh air."

……

Having finished proctoring the fourth-grade exams, Felix graded the less than one hundred papers that same day.

"A total of 7 O's and 22 E's, which is very good compared to previous years."

The former represents excellent, the latter good, and the number of people who pass is even greater.

"And there's also the bonus for practical experience with magical puppets, so maybe I'll break my best score in ancient runes class in the last decade or so," Felix thought happily, a feeling that was reflected in his beaming smile during the following exams.

Finally, at the end of the first week of June, the final exams were over. Students in other grades were completely liberated. A few young wizards who were worried about their grades might still be anxious for a couple of days, but most of them had already let loose and had a great time.

The school was filled with laughter and joy. Only the fifth and seventh graders were still preparing for their wizarding exams.

They were extremely anxious, and Felix, as a professor, confiscated all sorts of bizarre gadgets.

"Miss Seldon, can you tell me where you got this onion-scented amulet?"

Pete Selton was on the verge of tears, sobbing and remaining silent.

"Okay, I won't deduct points this time. Drink some euphoria; you're too depressed."

After drinking the euphoric potion, Seldon looked radiant and much more cheerful. She thanked the professor happily and left with light steps.

Felix was pleased with his approach, but he soon discovered that more and more people were heading to the school hospital, with large numbers of fifth and seventh graders telling Mrs. Pomfrey that they were feeling down and needed a boost of energy.

"Our stock is clearly running low, Professor Hyp. And there's been some substandard euphoria going around the school; I've had seven or eight students laughing non-stop," Mrs. Pomfrey complained.

Besides the euphoric potion, the happiness charm has a similar effect, and this spell is only for third-year students, making it a very simple spell for students preparing for their wizarding exams.

But finally, the Wizarding Level Exams arrived, right after the final exam results were announced.

One day in mid-June, Felix saw several very old wizards at school. They were the examiners for this year's wizarding exams—an ugly man with a tumor, a short, fat witch, a balding wizard with glasses, and of course, the head of the wizarding exam board—Grossdale Marchban.

Marchban was a short, hunchbacked witch with a face covered in wrinkles, like spiderwebs. But she was in excellent spirits and had a loud voice. Years ago, she had been the examiner for Felix's Transfiguration and Charms exams in both OWLs and NEWTs.

Incredibly, she had also been one of Headmaster Dumbledore's examiners. She was the oldest wizard Felix had ever met who was still active in the wizarding world.

"Oh, Felix, is that you? It's nice to see you at school," the diminutive Machiban called out from a distance, with Professor McGonagall beside her.

"Professor Machiban, it's been a long time." Felix subtly pointed his wand at himself, amplifying his voice.

"It hasn't been long at all. Time always flies. It feels like just yesterday that I proctored Dumbledore's exam," said Machiavellian, who was a little hard of hearing. "I'll never forget that moment! It was an honor to proctor him."

Machiban, engrossed in conversation, looked at Felix: "You too, though you really impress me with your knowledge of Charms. I heard you're a Muggle expert now? Do you teach Muggle Studies?"

"It's ancient runes, Professor Machiban. This is my area of ​​research."

Machiban listened intently, then said loudly, "I hope you don't neglect your study of magic, especially spells, with their incredible power!"

Felix smiled and nodded, then, as her attention shifted elsewhere, she turned to the balding wizard and said, "Long time no see, Tofody. I just saw Ogden recently..."

"He mentioned it to me, at a medal-awarding ceremony at the Ministry of Magic, didn't he?" Toford said.

This was also one of Felix's former examiners, though the two didn't have much contact during their school years. Felix visited him after graduation—Toford was also an expert in ancient runes, and although a theorist, he provided Felix with considerable assistance.

"Yes, he looks to be in good health."

"Yeah, that old man! I didn't believe him when he told me, but I never thought you actually went back to Hogwarts."

"I like the atmosphere at school," Felix said casually.

"That's one of the reasons I stay at the examination board. They are the hope of the British magical world—although most of the time these young people are a headache." The old man rambled on for a while, "And old Vera, he gets angry with me every time I mention you, but I clearly see your books on his desk..."

Felix suppressed a laugh and didn't reply. Old Vera was the grandfather of one of his students, Clémi Vera, a very stubborn old man.

He is also the vice president of the Ancient Rune Association and has always been critical of Felix's "Practical Ancient Runes".

(End of this chapter)